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Commissioner of Oaths

The Municipality of Port Hope Corporate Services Department has four signing officers who have authority to Commission documents requiring a "Commissioner of Oaths". The service is provided subject to availability of a Commissioner of Oaths, and patrons are recommended to call ahead and make an appointment.

You are required to present one original piece of original government-issued photo identification (no copies permitted) i.e. a valid driver's licence.

Current Fees

The current fee for Commissioning of Oath Services is $5.00 per document for non-residents and all business entities including commissioning of an affidavit by the Clerk or Deputy Clerk for documents such as (but not limited to) :

Residency documentation

Deeds

Insurance claims

Pension Plan documents

Certify documents as "true copies"

Birth and Death information applications as prescribed by Statute

Certification of identifiable individual's signature

Commissioning Ministry of Transportation documents is $15.00 per document

Notary Public

A Notary Public and a Commissioner of Oaths are both public officials who are granted the authority to do certain things by provincial statutes. For notaries, the governing statute is the Notaries Act (Ontario) and for commissioners, it is the Commissioners for taking Affidavits Act (Ontario). The powers of a commissioner of oaths are limited to acts involving affidavits and statutory declarations.

What is the difference between a Notary and a Commissioner?

Notary is a public officer who receives and writes the contract, obligations, testament, transactions and other voluntary act as well as official deed. The neutrality and official deed characterizes the notary, which is different from the role of lawyer. The lawyer is not a public officer, defending the interests uniquely for his customers. The lawyer is impartial.

For more information regarding Commissioner of Oath services, contact the Corporate Services Department at 905.885.4544. The Municipality does not have a Notary Public and cannot notarize documents. A list of Notary Publics and lawyers who notarize documents can be found in your local phone directory.

Documents requiring a "Notary Public services" cannot be commissioned at the Municipal Office. Local solicitors, justice of the peace or similar vocations are eligible to notarize documents as "Notary Public".